Seaborn

The Seaborn Cycle #1

by Michael Livingston

The seven houses of the matriarchal Seaborn have plied the seas of the Fair Isles for centuries, trading among the islands and fending off the attacks by the fearsome Bone Pirate.

But suddenly, out of the night sky, a common enemy appears — the Windborn, who come without warning to raid, burn, and kill.

Hoping to turn the tide, Shae — the Bone Pirate’s first mate — enacts a daring plan to fight her way aboard a Windborn vessel. The raid yields a prize — the airship’s captain who is, to Shae’s shock, a man.

Together with a reluctant heroine named Bela, they learn the truth of their shared history: the Windborn and Seaborn come from the same people, split apart by blood magick when a race of immortal mechanical men betrayed their human makers.

Now, these unlikely allies must make a desperate journey to confront the secrets of the past — and stop the dark magick at its source

Genres: Fantasy, Audiobook, Fiction, Pirates, Science Fiction Fantasy, Steampunk, Magic

384 pages, Paperback

First published July 8, 2020

About the author

A native of Colorado, Michael Livingston holds degrees in History, Medieval Studies, and English. He lives today in Charleston, South Carolina, where he teaches at The Citadel.

In his author life, he is a winner of the prestigious international Writers of the Future Contest (in 2005), and his novel SHARDS OF HEAVEN, the first in a trilogy of historical fantasies, will be published by Tor Books in November 2015. He has also published in a variety of other genres and venues, from a historical retelling of BEOWULF to a brief story about quantum physics in the world-renowned journal of science, NATURE.

In his academic life, he has published more than a dozen articles on subjects as varied as early Christianity, BEOWULF, Chaucer, James Joyce, J.R.R. Tolkien, and digital and practical pedagogies (though never all of them at once!). He has investigated European maps of America that pre-date Columbus, found unrecorded Anasazi ruins and artifacts, and written about the handwriting of fourteenth-century scribes. He is the general editor of the Liverpool Historical Casebooks Series, for which he has edited casebooks on the Battle of Brunanburh (Exeter, 2011), the Welsh rebel hero Owain Glyndwr (co-edited with John Bollard; Liverpool, 2013), and, coming soon, the Battle of Crécy (co-edited with Kelly DeVries; 2015).

Reviews

[Brittney · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75 ⭐️ It was a good start to an interesting series. The back and forth without any real notice of past vs present threw me off at first. I think this is just an Audible exclusive as well so it should have been more clear. Overall though I’m invested, I enjoy the magic aspect and the characters.

[Jamedi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review originally on JamReads

Seaborn is the first novel in the eponymous epic fantasy series, written by Michael Livingston, and published by Head of Zeus. An ambitious first instalment, that throws into a fascinating world with a matriarchal society, and that is used to write a gripping and high-action fantasy adventure, with an excellent cast of characters.

The seven houses of the Seaborn have dominated the seas of the Fair Isles for centuries; until suddenly, one night, a new enemy appeared, the Windborn, raiding, burning and killing. That first night, Bela became a heroine, even if she doesn't want to accept it; for a chance of destiny, she ends together with Shae, a pirate, capturing a Windborn airship and discovering that the captain is a male. However, there's more behind the Windborn attacks that they know, and uncovering the truth behind it will take them in an intense adventure that will shake the pillars of their society.

Interestingly, despite Bela adopts a secondary role at some points, I feel she is the real lead of the story; a humble but brave woman that is just trying to get her worthiness recognized, not to just be the hero of the night the Windborn appeared. Shae is a bit more complicated to analyze, but apart from always being in danger, she's decisive for the story to happen. In comparison, the Windborn captain pales a bit, a man with an oath, but who is open to change his ideas with enough pressure.

The world is absolutely fascinating, portraying a complex society where the genre roles are inverted; the Windborn are the opposite to the Seaborn, using technology to fight against the magic of the Seaborn, with a totally different conception about genre stereotypes. It is true that the pacing is a bit slow, but it is balanced with excellent action scenes.

Seaborn lays a solid foundation for what aims to be an epic series; this first instalment is an introduction to the world, preparing all for a sequel that seems to have a bigger scope. If you like epic fantasy, and want something different, give Seaborn a try!

[joy’s reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️
i don’t think im the right audience to fully appreciate this book but i will say that the writing was really easy and immersive and i also really liked the characters and the story.
i think if you are looking for a book with pirates and magic and conflicts then this book is a great option and you would really like it.

[Amalga Mat1on · Rating 4 out of 5]

A 3.5, but shaping up to being a really interesting series

I honestly tried the audiobook cause of the reviews, calling it sexist or feminine. It's true...only if you're not comfortable towards women being more than background noise.

The story features one of the societies living in a dominant (and arguably cruel) matriarchy. As the story progresses, cultural understanding and clashes develops between enemies at war with one another, as the true crisis manifests in the background. The characters are well-written, the plot is interesting, and the world-building is solid. The pacing is a little slow, but the patience pays off by the end, as the "true" adventure unfolds.

Patience is required for this audiobook. But, it sets the series up well and looking forward to book 2.

[Abi · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐ bit slow to get going and feel like we only just got started at the end, but I like the world and the characters! Matriarchal seafaring society + pirates + airships + magic Vs machine, what's not to like? And not as steampunky as I had feared. Looking forward to reading the next one.

[Mikey Stack · Rating 4 out of 5]

I quite enjoyed it! Im excited to read the other 2 in the trilogy.

[Mettesknit · Rating 1 out of 5]

Audiobook narrated by
Elizabeth Evans
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Dnf 33%

Not for me.

I've tried several times, but it just doesn't capture my interest.

[Sally Rainbow · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ve seen several reviews stating this book is feminist. It’s not. The main society is matriarchal but it is a cruel and oppressive. This isn’t feminism. Perhaps it’s the author’s commentary on many real societies.

3.5 ⭐️ As other reviewers have said, it’s quite slow to get going but the world building is complex and secure. The author doesn’t get bogged down in made up languages or explaining the laws of physics in this world (you can gloss over the section explaining the weather systems). The focus is on kinship structures, how society operates and the historical events that shaped this culture. We’re shown this through a combination of events, reminiscent conversations and lengthy passages of narration. The final third of the book is where the action starts: the main characters are all in the right places, they obtain agency and the story becomes character driven rather than ‘scene setting’. The first two thirds are 3⭐️ and the final third is 4⭐️. If this carries on, I’m keen for book 2.
The writing style is accessible and this was a quick weekend read for me. ‘Men writing women’ is always a gamble, but the characters are three dimensional and emotionally complex, thankfully indicated through their actions rather than an internal monologue.
I almost DNF’d it around chapter 2, when the characters appeared to be stranded on a zombie infested island (zombies are an immediate nope for me). It isn’t zombies - keep reading; it’s magic and science and war and peace and present and past and human.
It’s not going to blow your mind but it’s an enjoyable read and I’ll certainly read book 2.

[Courtney Pierce · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was okay. Got through the first couple chapters, but it was not really my kind of book. Seems kind of post apocalyptic to me. Kind of boring. It was kind of vague with what it was about, like the author was trying to keep things mystical but failing at keeping it intriguing to want to find out more.

[monet whitlock-bryant · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF soooo boring ! After15 characters nothing real is happening!

[(Grace) Kentucky Bohemian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellently Written. But...
Michael Livingston is a wonderful author, and he has imagined a fascinating world for his readers with this series. It's got everything a reader could hope for, with pirates, royalty, and wielders of magick, all in a matriarchal society. As I realized that the main characters I was first introduced to were part of this society where women were accepted as naturally dominant, I thought this would present a wave of new perspectives. In this culture, men are basically either "oxen, dogs, or cattle." In other words, the women see the men as good for either manual labor, guardsmen (protectors), or breeders. Yep. Depending on how a man is "gifted" from birth, this could be an awesome place to live... or not. Either way, seeing culture from this side, with the negative views the women just naturally assume of their men is certainly mind-expanding.

If this idea is totally abhorrent to you, rest easy on one front: this is not a "femi-nazi" all-men-are-evil novel. It's actually a very well-written, high-action fantasy adventure. The characters, male and female alike, are intriguing, complex, and engaging. The storyline is equally impressive, with a complicated history between the factions- Windborn, Seaborn, Stormborn, etc. Several of the main characters are forward-thinking, looking beyond their traditions and recognizing that all may not be as they have been taught since a young age.

While I applauded all of this within the context of the book, I remained slightly uneasy about something the storyline and characters projected. I felt like I was reading a "woke" book, one designed to make me realize that all I've believed, known, and worked for is wrong. To be fair, I don't believe this is what the author was going for here. But in light of the past year or so feeling as though this brand of thinking was being shoved down my throat at every turn, I have no interest in having it as part of my literary relaxation. If I had read this a few years ago, I believe that I would have considered it a 5-star read. Instead, I was tempted to label it as 3-star, but that wouldn't have been appropriate for a book as well written as this one.

So, reader, this one is your call. It's a good, action-packed story. If you're not jaded by current society's wokism, you will most probably enjoy it.

[Tainee (theveiledreader) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, It was a good read. A good place to start to introduce characters.

Plot pacing was great. I loved the tension and tone set by the author that builds until the climax, and from one event to another. I believe it was well paced.

Also, love how the lore was slowly fed to us. Slowly learning about the magic system and the world lore as a whole throughout the book was great. There was no info dumping. It was serving bite sized and building up.

The writing was easy to digest, with lyrical proses here and there. Some people might not like it, but it was right up my alley.

I love the characters. I think that the female characters were well written. We follow Bela, who is Seaborn. She is on a journey to fulfil her dreams of becoming a Shipmistress. Through a few series of events, her quick thinking had led her to be known as Belakane, a hero in the eyes of her people. I love how emotionally controlled she was, and how decisive. I love how she’s witty and is able to make most of the situation she’s in. She’s highly logical and has high survival skills. Someone you’d want by your side during an apocalypse.

Then we have Shae, a Bone Pirate. I feel as though Bela and Shae are cut from the same cloth, although they have different motivations. Shae is definitely more morally grey, being a pirate, but much like Bela, she’s quick witted, although I suppose, she struggles a little more with her inner thoughts.

While I love this, I do not think it’s phenomenal enough to give it a five stars. I do not like the matriarchy of this world. It’s cruel. And this is more of a personal issue. While I do not mind Matriarchal societies as a whole, e.g: Claymore, I am not a fan when they’re so cruel. Like, men are literally being treated as commodity, as animals. And if you’re going to say “Oh, but that’s how women are treated in real life.” And for that very reason, I do not condone this. Do not do unto others what you do not want others to do unto you. That is my motto in life. Even if it’s just fiction, it makes me uncomfortable. If you condemn patriarchy in books and in real life, you’ll need to not condone this too. It’s also weird that a *man* is writing such matriarchal world. Again, this is more personal than anything else.

Anyways, I’d recommend the book.

[Ben · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall, the story is good but not great. The first third or so which sets up all our characters and puts them together is action packed and intriguing, but the story then loses all sense of conflict or drama until the very end when the climax comes out of nowhere, which left me neither wholly satisfied or dissatisfied. If you, like I was, aren’t sure what to think of all the mixed reviews for this story, I think I can now explain- The premise of the book is that of a world where real life sexism and homophobia are inverted and intensified, meaning women are in charge and expected to be in relationships with other women, while men are slaves and relationships with them are unheard of. This is probably what scares some people in to calling the book “woke”, but after the first third of the book when the setting is established, this element fades quickly in to the background, save for the occasional awkward interaction which reminds you some of the characters are horribly sexist. This means the book doesn’t really do much with its premise, which I’d imagine lets down all the people who were coming in to it hoping for a strong anti-sexism/homophobia message. As long as you keep those that in mind and don’t get your hopes up, Seaborn is a good enough time to warrant a listen.

(If it matters to you, since this is an audible original book, the voice acting and audio mixing were on point and never hampered the storytelling.)

[Sifa Poulton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a review copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. It has not affected my opinion.

SEABORN is the start of an intriguing trilogy of cultural collisions and action on high seas - and skies

There is an intriguing mix of technology levels in this book, from a more conventional sea going culture with only swords and projectiles to the guns and flying craft of the windborn.

This book features interesting clashes of cultures. There are the seaborn, both the established state and the pirates, as well as stormborn (descendants of outlaws), and, of course, the windborn. There are flaws to each culture, which was nice to see. The seaborn is the one seen most of all but the glimpses of the others are very interesting too. I do hope we get to see more of this in the coming books.

The seaborn world is matriarchal and thus very different in power dynamics to our own. This interestingly is used to quickly and efficiently turn us sympathetic to the windborn captain because we can understand his culture shock. His people are firmly portrayed as the enemy but being able to identify with him so quickly breaks that down and makes you start to wonder if there's more to his side of the story.

This book very much felt like getting the characters and tentative alliances into place (and then sowing tension between them) in order for the action to really kick off next book and I am interested to see how it plays out.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

This action-packed read (the first in The Seaborn Cycle trilogy) combines high-seas pirate rivalries, steampunk mechanics, capable heroines, matriarchal societies, ancient legends and fantasy war. I can’t help thinking it would make an awesome movie!

In the story, Bone Pirate Shae, newly-tried seamistress Bela, airship captain Kayden and unrooted wanderer Alina are thrown together and torn apart by the events of a war-torn world battling for territory. As they discover a malicious plot to reclaim dark magic (and a common enemy) they must put aside their differences and work together to save their homes.

Their adventures are hard hitting and gripping from the first chapter to the last. The characters take centre stage, as do their struggles with belonging, shame and duty, but the world building is masterful too - full of legends, honour, habits and superstitions that determine the actions of those involved. I found myself longing for a map to refer to, but you don’t really need one as each key location sticks in your mind.

The constant action makes it quick to read. But be warned - it’s an emotional rollercoaster and the deaths are brutal (nobody is safe!)

This is a great book to pick up by the sea, or if you’re after an adventure in a wild, original world. Thank you to @headofzeus for my copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Sandy Schleich · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was definitely not what I expected. It was good, but it was awfully slow and long. When I first read the title, Seaborn, I thought that the characters would have some kind of magic that had to do with the sea but I was wrong. The women were mostly had to do with being on ships and being captains or working on a ship. The only males that were crewmembers on the ships were usually slaves. I did find this comparison to Amazon women because in this book women ran everything and men were subordinate to them, and the only time women seem to have relationships with men is for breeding purposes. They didn’t say specifically in this book, but it seem like the only relationships that women had for love and things like that we were other women. There was magic in his book, but only certain people had it, and you didn’t really learn more about it until later. one of the confusing things in his book was that when you just started getting interested in one character, the story was changed to a different character. People that you thought were friends ended up being enemies and people that were enemies ended up being friends in this book. I did listen to this on audible, and I did like the narrator.

[Janette · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an exciting adventure story set in an interesting world.
The book opens with an attack on a fishing town by an airborne enemy and that action filled prologue really sets the scene for what comes after.
The story is told through the multiple POV which keep the story moving along although sometimes this is at the expense of getting to know the characters better
I really liked the world building and thought that the matriarchal society was well explained even if one or two aspects were cruel to say the least. The culture shock when some of the characters had to realise that other societies didn’t work in the same way was well done too. It was interesting to read that the idea for the world was actually provided by N K Jemison
I enjoyed the way that the plot gradually built up and the characters were forced to work together against a common enemy but without actually trusting each other and the climax was a real shock. I also loved the mixture of fantasy with some elements of magic and steam punk with the windships.
This was a great start to a new series and I will be interested to see what happens next.
Thank you as always to Net Galley and the publishers, Head of Zeus, for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Chris Bryant · Rating 4 out of 5]

First in a series that establishes a matriarchal seafaring society. We follow two main characters, both female. With two strong secondary characters, one male, one female. All of these characters are fairly young. There is a primary character, in that all of the rest seem to be in orbit about her.

The book, in many ways, feels YA to start, but seems to grow up a bit as you move forward. Though probably not fully. The matriaiachalness of the society has a couple of shocking revelations throughout the book.

I enjoyed the world building early on. But as we moved towards the climax, I found myself wishing for a bit more. I can see where Livingston has seeded the next couple of books and somewhat set up characters for their next steps. But, I am not sure that you feel the characters really develop at all.

[Maffew · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5
bad but not bad bad. bad in the sense that this is a product of the current book market.
long drawn out fluff of ideas that are typically well received given to a reader in a mediocre writing style.

I was just holding my breath for the story to actually start. Any action or plot just seemed like an excuse to give more exposition.

It just feels like part of a first draft. enough that I think I would like a final copy of the whole story but I can't actually recommend this to anyone as is.

if I can get through the entire series for free and filling up my airplane travel time then maybe I'll come across enough of a reason to think positively on it but I just kind of doubt that.

[JULIA · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this to be a pretty solid feminist fantasy story. It takes a while to get used to the switching perspectives. I found it odd that each chapter wasn’t identified by whose perspective we were to follow, especially since the book is being read to you. The listener has to just keep going until the character is identified.

The world building is creative. This has steampunk elements as well as magic. I might listen to the next installment. I like the concept of FREE, after all, and this comes included in the audible membership. Im not driven to go grab book two right away though. Overall, I’d give this novel a 3.75 stars in my head.

[Anderson Atlas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful Pirate Magic Action
I love pirates. So when I learned of a book about female pirates I was excited. The book starts off with an attack from air ships on pirate fleet. I was immediately hooked because I wanted to know in what world pirates and their ships would collide with aircraft. The book continues to unravel secrets, mysteries about fury wood, islands, the Pirates and the mysterious aircraft it was a fantastic ride.

My favorite character was the humble but savior-prone Bela. Ahh, I liked Shea, too. But her struggle with her destiny wasn't as pronounced.

[Ben James · Rating 2 out of 5]

A book which works better in concept than execution (and the main concept isn't even the author's idea - it's N.K. Jemisin's). There's some interesting ideas of seaships vs airships, but the narrative all gets muddled up in magic systems and backstory. I didn't mesh with any of the characters, they're all quite flat and blur into each other, and the prose leaves a lot to be desired. This has been out as an audiobook for a while, and perhaps it's better in that format, but there's plenty of better fantasy out there.

[Ava Gervan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this book, it is very much a set up book for the rest of the series. It reminds me a little of the Wheel of Time series with the magic system, which is understandable because Michael Livingston is a big Robert Jordan/wheel of time fan.

The female main characters are very different yet well rounded and empowering in their own ways. It’s nice to read books with fmc that aren’t overly characterized as arrogant.

I always love a good pirate book and this one gave me just a taste that felt real with a good story and plot behind it. I can’t wait to read the rest of the series!

[Dragonlady Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

At first it felt like a generic YA fantasy set in a world subdivided by sea and sky . . .pirates and seafarers, explorers and a code of ethics. But it is more than that. There’s a history, a war in the making; an evil, more cultures and a wider more sprawling world than seemed at first. Multiple narratives keep the action moving, and some epic-LoTR style descriptions.
I probably give it really 4.5 stars but haven’t worked out how to do part stars.
Love the term ‘aluman ‘
Themes include use/abuse of power, prejudice, gender, authority, among others.

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stumbled upon this book quite by chance and thoroughly enjoyed it. The world this is set in is fascinating, well crafted and unique - I can't wait to learn more about it. Same goes for the magic, which is equally intriguing. And then there's a plot full of pirates, magic, a brewing war, hidden secrets and old mysteries, as well as a great cast of characters to explore all this with. Looking forward to the next part!

[Will Rivard · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book I've read by Livingston, and I must say I was impressed. I thoroughly enjoyed Seaborn. It was a pleasant mix of fantasy with undercurrents of steampunk (maybe too much for fantasy purists and not enough for gadget lovers). I found the characters both believable and relatable and plan to move book two toward the top of my to-be-read pile.

[Amy Kisling · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was absolutely refreshing to read a fantasy book where most of the cultures are matriarchal. Dr Livingston did a smashing job writing the female characters and twisting typical “norms” on their head.

The world building and magic system are quite unique, and the pacing will keep you on your toes. Great for both casual readers and for those who want to think more deeply.

[Sherbet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Seaborn totally hooked me—lady pirates, magic, nautical shenanigans and an exploration of a matriarchal world? Yes, please. The story is full of sharp, compelling characters and rich worldbuilding that moves at a quick pace. And I wanted to move in to Anjel and never leave. It’s the first in a trilogy, and I’m already counting down to book two.

[Karli R · Rating 5 out of 5]

Women rule the seas. Men rule the air. What happens when they collide? Who started the war? What happens when the two come together to try for peace?This is a great book. Sometimes hard to follow, as it switches back and forth. It will keep you on your toes and coming back for more.

[Ash · Rating 4 out of 5]

To clarify for anyone else who read Black Crow, White Snow (the short story) first, this series is a rewritten and more detailed expansion with familiar characters. The author will also be releasing print versions of the books soon as well! Love the world building in this book.